(Written from Prague where it is -3 degrees, dark at 4pm, remembering the sunny days..)
We arrive in Porto where we are picked up at the airport by our driver and dropped off on a shabby side street, amongst a row of rundown and unoccupied buildings. In front of us was a blue door with no signage, which we were informed was our hotel. Suspiciously, we knock on the door. We are relieved and pleasantly surprised to find a beautifully restored bed and breakfast with wonderful hosts, right in the heart of the old town of Porto.
We pick up another rental car in Porto and drive on down to Ericera, a small fishing and surfing village near Lisbon. It is a sleepy village and we are well relaxed after 3 nights here. We spend our days lying on the beaches and surfing.
It is in Ericera where we hear the exciting news of the early arrival of our new first niece, Juliette! A very special time for Dave and Lana and we are lucky to be able to Skype and receive lots of photos of little Juliette.
We arrive in Porto where we are picked up at the airport by our driver and dropped off on a shabby side street, amongst a row of rundown and unoccupied buildings. In front of us was a blue door with no signage, which we were informed was our hotel. Suspiciously, we knock on the door. We are relieved and pleasantly surprised to find a beautifully restored bed and breakfast with wonderful hosts, right in the heart of the old town of Porto.
Blue door hides '6only Guesthouse'
View of the river at sunset
We awake to another beautiful day and spend the morning roaming the streets of the old town. Come early afternoon we find ourselves in a port cellar (what else to do in Porto??) where we are taken on a guided tour. After tasting, we do not need much convincing to purchase a lovely 20 year bottle of Port, which is now keeping our Sauterne wine company in the pack!
Porto Old Town
Basking by the river, post port
We enjoy our time in Porto, and make sure we have plenty of time to fit in the famous local delicacy, the Francesinha. This is the best, and most unhealthy sandwich you will ever taste. Two pieces of white bread encasing 3 varieties of meat. An egg and fried cheese seals it together on top and a spicy gravy surrounds (served with fries). Heart attack in a sandwich, and guaranteed to cure any hangover!
Meet Fran, the Francesinha
We pick up another rental car in Porto and drive on down to Ericera, a small fishing and surfing village near Lisbon. It is a sleepy village and we are well relaxed after 3 nights here. We spend our days lying on the beaches and surfing.
Ericera main street
Surf beach - three days spent here
Doing this...
And this
It is in Ericera where we hear the exciting news of the early arrival of our new first niece, Juliette! A very special time for Dave and Lana and we are lucky to be able to Skype and receive lots of photos of little Juliette.
Juliette
Another short drive down the coast lands us in Lisbon. Our well chosen accommodation provides us with a map and a list of sights to see, bars to visit and restaurants to eat at. We follow their instructions to the letter, and have a wonderful few days in Lisbon.
Old city entrance
Yellow trams, like a rollercoaster ride through the steep streets
The city is larger than Porto, but manages to feel very small and is easy to get around in the yellow trams. There is a fun, young vibe to the city, with every available open space seemingly turned into a impromptu concert area where tourists and locals mingle in the evenings.
Evening sunset crowd
Friendly shadows
Hello moon
From Lisbon we drive up the coast to Peniche. After enjoying the surfing competition so much in France, we have made last minute changes to our itinerary to coincide with next stop on the world surf tour, conveniently in Peniche!
Bom Sucesso Villas
Evening drinks
We book a week in a partially completed golf resort on the outskirts of Peniche. It is a beautiful property, and luckily our villa is complete, but there is still a lot of construction going on in the surrounding area. This gives it the feeling of a ghost town as we are quite possibly the only people staying in the whole resort. We are excited to have a kitchen for a week, and get a little bit over excited at the supermarket.
Healthy looking fridge
Peniche itself is a rather barren, windswept looking town. The beaches, however, are typically lovely and we are more than happy with our seven days here.
Happy campers
We have a few days by ourselves before the surfing starts, soaking up the sun and enjoying our home cooked meals. The surf contest is an amazing event, contested in perfect conditions and is all over in three full days.
Supertubos barrel
Set up for the day
Good turnout
Sunset barrel
Peniche proves to be a highlight on our trip and it is with sadness that we leave. Some say we don't want to go to Morocco, and they would be right! But we go anyway, ever the intrepid travellers, onwards and upwards! (or downwards, geographically speaking)
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